18: Chapter 18 The World of Martial Artists

Zhao Bin had a proud personality; there weren't many people he would call a "friend."

This added a few more layers to her curiosity about Qin Yan.

A friendly smile appeared on her face. "Hello, Student Qin Yan. Your performance in the Monthly Exam was wonderful."

Looking at the sincere and infectious smile on Zhou Nan's face, Qin Yan finally understood why she was revered as the goddess of First High.

With excellent talent, family background, looks, and temperament, she truly lived up to her reputation.

"Hello, Student Zhou Nan," Qin Yan greeted her with a smile as well.

Zhao Bin smiled softly as he watched the two of them getting along harmoniously.

His father and Zhou Nan's father were close friends, and he had a good relationship with Zhou Nan, so he was naturally happy to see this happen.

At this time, the area around the Martial Arts Arena was already crowded, and the atmosphere was heated.

Suddenly, two figures leaped down from the high stands like goshawks.

They landed lightly and steadily in the center of the massive Martial Arts Arena, instantly attracting everyone's attention.

"It's actually Mountain-Cleaving Spear Liu Meng and Thunder-Running Hand Lei Hao!"

Zhao Bin whispered excitedly, "Qin Yan, you're really lucky!

Both of them are long-established Second-Rank Martial Artists!

They are experts even in our Linhai Martial Arts Association!

Especially Liu Meng—he's a spear user!

Watch closely. If you can grasp even a little bit, it will be of great benefit to your Spear Technique!"

Qin Yan's gaze was instantly fixed, his heart filled with expectation.

He could finally witness a battle between Martial Artists with his own eyes!

In the center of the Martial Arts Arena.

"Lei Hao! I lost to you by half a move last time, but this time I'm bound to win!

Don't forget the stakes when you lose!"

Liu Meng, holding a dark red long spear, spoke with a voice like a resonant bell.

Just by standing there, a sharp and peerless Aura rushed toward them.

It was as if the long spear in his hand could pierce the heavens.

"Liu Meng! Who can't talk big?

Let's see if your 'Mountain-Cleaving Spear' can break through my Thunder-Running Hand!"

Lei Hao laughed loudly. His arms shook, his muscles bulged, and the faint sound of wind and thunder echoed; his Aura was wild and overbearing.

Before his voice had even faded, Lei Hao's figure suddenly blurred.

A faint afterimage seemed to remain in place while his true body shot out like an arrow from a bow.

Crossing a distance of over a dozen feet in one step, his fist, carrying a terrifying gale, smashed directly toward Liu Meng's face!

Liu Meng snorted coldly, completely unafraid.

He stomped the ground with the butt of his spear in his left hand, using the force to lunge forward as the long spear in his right hand shot out like a venomous dragon from its den, accurately pointing toward Lei Hao's fist!

"Boom!!"

The spear and fist collided, producing a dull explosion like thunder!

A visible shockwave erupted from the pair, causing the clothes of the spectators in the front row to flutter loudly!

What was even more shocking was that as the two of them fully erupted their Qi and blood.

Wisps of blood-colored mist, almost tangible, rose from the tops of their heads.

It was like straight plumes of smoke, forming circles of air-distorting energy ripples around them!

Qin Yan watched, dumbfounded, his mind reeling!

He felt that the two on the Martial Arts Arena weren't humans at all, but two rampaging prehistoric behemoths!

The shockwaves generated by every collision made his skin tingle slightly, even from dozens of meters away.

His heart involuntarily throbbed with every strike.

Is this the true power of a Martial Artist?

So terrifying! So shocking!

"So cool! It's the Qi and Blood Smoke!

They really are at the Second-Rank Perfection Realm!"

Zhao Bin clenched his fists, his face flushed with excitement. "I must become a powerhouse like them in the future!"

The battle on the field was incredibly intense. The long spear moved like a dragon, agile and ever-changing—at times like pear blossoms in a storm, at others like Mount Tai pressing down.

The fists and palms were like thunder, fierce and violent; every strike contained the terrifying power to shatter stone monuments.

The clashing of metal and the dull thuds of Qi and blood colliding rang out incessantly.

The fierce battle lasted for nearly fifteen minutes.

In the end, Liu Meng used an exquisite 'Turning Horse Spear' technique to narrowly strike off Lei Hao's bracer, winning by half a move.

"I've won this round!" Liu Meng retracted his spear and stood tall, laughing loudly.

Lei Hao was also straightforward, shaking his somewhat numb arm.

He took a small jade bottle from his robes and tossed it over. "Hmph! I'll win it back next time! This bottle of bone forging pills is yours!"

bone forging pills?

Qin Yan didn't know what kind of Medicinal Pill that was exactly, but for a Second-Rank Martial Artist to value it so much, its worth must be immeasurable.

Walking out of the Martial Arts Association building, Qin Yan declined Zhao Bin's offer to have his butler drive him back, choosing to walk instead.

Night had already fallen, and the city lights were beginning to glow.

Qin Yan walked home alone, his mind repeatedly replaying that earth-shaking duel on the Martial Arts Arena.

Second-Rank Martial Artists, Qi and Blood Smoke, bone forging pills, that peerless Spear Technique, that overbearing and fierce fist style...

Each new concept and powerful image opened a door for him to the true world of martial arts.

"Is this the world of Martial Artists?"

He murmured to himself, a warm current surging in his chest.

"As expected... vast, powerful, and extraordinary!"

At this moment, Qin Yan's gaze became incredibly firm, and his martial heart toward becoming a powerhouse grew even more solid.

...

After Qin Yan left, Zhou Nan stared intently at Zhao Bin and said, "What's the deal with that Qin Yan? Why would you let him into your martial arts room? This is wasting one of Uncle Zhao's quotas."

Zhao Bin's father, like her own, was a Second-Rank Martial Artist.

A Second-Rank Martial Artist could only bring in two relatives or friends.

"It's nothing. My dad agreed to this as well.

Besides, my dad only has me as his son, so that extra quota would have gone to waste anyway.

It just so happens that I can invite Qin Yan here to practice Martial Arts Skill with me."

"This... helps me improve my Martial Arts... Skill."

At this point, Zhao Bin's cheeks reddened slightly.

He wasn't used to lying in the first place, and he was lying to the girl he liked.

Seeing Zhao Bin's reaction, Zhou Nan understood instantly that Zhao Bin was hiding something from her.

However, what surprised her was that Uncle Zhao had actually agreed to this.

"Oh? Is that so?"

Zhou Nan nodded, no longer questioning him on the surface, but she had already made up her mind to come and investigate for herself tomorrow.

She wanted to see what was so unique about this Qin Yan.

The next day, Qin Yan practiced his Spear Technique in the morning as usual, while also taking time to guide Lin Yang and Zhou Yuan in Stance Training.

This didn't take up too much of his time.

He adjusted his Cultivation plan, deciding to move his Stance Training practice to the evening to do it with Zhao Bin in the martial arts room.

The environment there was secluded and the equipment was Advanced.

More importantly, Zhao Bin knew some of his secrets.

He could consume a large amount of qi and blood potions without any reservations, not needing to worry about attracting attention.

In the evening, when Qin Yan and Zhao Bin arrived at the door of Room 111 of the Martial Arts Association again.

They were surprised to find Zhou Nan leaning against the doorframe with her arms crossed, as if she had been waiting for a long time.

"Why are you here?"

Zhao Bin asked, somewhat surprised.

"My martial arts room is right next to yours. Why can't I be here?"

Zhou Nan raised an eyebrow and countered, her tone natural.